Similar Species

There are still some debates as to whether these two Hypselodoris nudibranch with the same body form are separate species or just colour variations of the same species. The main difference is in colouration. Hypselodoris apolegma has a darker and deeper purple colour that grades towards the mantle margin into purple dots and finally into solid white along the edge of the mantle. The base of the gills and antennas (rhinophores) are also rich purple in colours, but changed to deep yellow at the ends.

Hypselodoris bullocki has several pale purple shade variations, from very pale, almost white, whitish purple to purple, but never as dark as the purple found in Hypselodoris apolegma. The colour is uniform over the whole mantle, with a narrow band of white or dark purple at the mantle edge. The gills and antennas are yellow with purplish base or pale purple all over.